REVOLUTIONS
CAUSES OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION During the reign of Louis XIV. A political system known as the Old Regime Divided France into 3 social classes- Estates First Estate Catholic clergy own 10 percent land, pay few taxes Second Estate rich nobles 2 percent population, own 20 percent land Paid no taxes Nobility Owned about 1/4 land in France Given gifts, food, labor from king and peasants on the land.
CAUSES OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION The Third Estate- peasants- 97% of people, urban workers, middle class Have few privileges, pay heavy taxes, want change Reasons for poverty Old fashioned ways of farming Taxation- burden falls to peasants Paid taxes to king and church - 1/2 income was taxes Poor harvest 1788 and hard winter- drives prices of grain up Affected the working class 1789: 3 social classes meet to try & solve problems facing country
KING LOUIS XVI AND MARIE ANTOINETTE France was in tremendous debt when Louis XIV died King Louis XVI and his wife Marie Antoinette known for extravagance Louis XVI doubles nation s debt; banks refuse to lend more money Louis s poor decisions and lack of patience add to France s problems Louis XVI wanted to tax 1st and 2nd estates They refused Government going bankrupt He calls Estates-General meeting of representatives from all three estates
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY Third estate brings many complaints- not what the King had in mind 3rd estate votes to replace monarchy with the National Assembly. Believed each delegate should have a vote, giving the advantage to the 3rd Estate King favors to vote by Estate- giving preference to the 1 st and 2 nd Estates After the 3rd Estate formed the National Assembly they: were locked out of the meeting room. broke into an indoor tennis court where they held their meeting. stayed until a new constitution was drafted. This became known as the Tennis Court Oath-delegates decide to write new constitution for France
STORMING OF THE BASTILLE Rumors fly in Paris that Louis wants to suppress National Assembly July 14th, 1789-1st act of revolution French citizens storm prison looking for weapons and gunpowder. Successfully take control of the prison. 100 people killed Prison commander and mayor beheaded and heads stuck on polesparaded around town.
THE GREAT FEAR Rebellion Rumors and panic spread throughout France Great Fear attacks by peasants taking place across France The nobles realized they were in danger - stood up in the National Assembly and gave up family privileges- new legislation means taxes on first and second estates
ASSEMBLY Assembly forms in France National Assembly adopts Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen- Natural rights Revolutionary leaders use the slogan, Liberty, Equality, Fraternity Louis Tries to Escape Louis, worried about his future, attempts to escape France Revolutionaries catch the royal family near Netherlands border
ASSEMBLY A Limited Monarchy In September 1791, Assembly finishes new constitution Legislative Assembly new body created to pass laws Factions Split France Major problems, including debt, food shortages remain Assembly split into Radicals, Moderates, Conservatives Émigrés nobles who flee country, want Old Regime back in power Sans-culottes lower class who want more change from the Revolution
HOW DID GOVERNMENT CHANGE IN FRANCE Constitution is written but country is still very unstable. France was at war with other countries during unstable time. New govt. started to lose control of country. Leadership was needed. Bourgeoisie (boor-zhwah-zee) - middle class Bankers, Lawyers, doctors, merchants Had money and education, lacked royal birth
JACOBINS Jacobins radical political organization behind 1792 governmental changes Members were of the bourgeoisie (meaning?) After a close vote, Louis XVI is found guilty of treason and beheaded Guillotine machine designed to behead people
ROBESPIERRE Maximillian Robespierre Jacobin leader rules France for a year Becomes leader of the Committee for Public Safety, a dictator His rule known as Reign of Terror Enemies of Revolution were executed- approx. 40,000 (including Marie Antoinette) - laws were passed suspending a suspects right to a trial or legal assistance He became an outlaw of the state. With officers after him, he attempted to kill himself but only injured his jaw Robespierre- and 21 of his followers- executed in 1794 without being given a trial New govt. plan established- less radical but also becomes ineffective Leaders of France continue to shift until power is given to Napoleon Bonaparte
NAPOLEON BONAPARTE Napoleon Bonaparte born in Corsica, attends military school joins army Successful in military- many victories In November 1799, he carries out coup d état (coo- de-tah) seizure of power Talks with French legislature while his men surround the building- claims himself to be the leader New constitution is approved through plebiscite vote of the people To fix economy, he sets up national banking system, efficient tax collection, government run public schools, reinstates Catholicism as national religion
NAPOLEON BONAPARTE Creates Napoleonic Code uniform system of laws Eliminates unfairness between classes Freedom of Speech restricted In December 1804, Napoleon crowns himself emperor of France When being crowned by Pope he took crown from Pope and crowned himself - setting himself as highest authority Controls nearly all of Europe through military victories Places Puppet Regimes supposedly independent but being told what to do by bigger country in countries he conquers Manipulates other countries through threat of military action
NAPOLEON BONAPARTE Napoleon and America: gives up on American colonies, sells Louisiana Territory to US for $15 million Europe: Russia, Austria, Sweden join forces against Napoleon Napoleon crushes enemy forces in several brilliant battles Forces opposing countries to sign peace treaties The Battle of Trafalgar British win, solidifies their naval superiority Forces Napoleon to give up taking them over but to control them another way French Empire reaches largest extent from 1807 to 1812 Controls the vast majority of Europe
FRENCH EMPIRE
NAPOLEON BONAPARTE The Peninsular War Napoleon sends troops across Spain to attack Portugal, causing protest Crowns his brother king of Spain- makes things worse Spanish fight as guerrillas small groups that attacked and then disappear Britain aids Spain Napoleon loses 300,000 soldiers
NAPOLEON BONAPARTE The Invasion of Russia 1812 - France and Russia were allies - but fearing Russia would help Britain - Napoleon attacks Russia In June, Napoleon s army marches into Russia with 420,000 men Russians use scorched-earth policy destroying crops, livestock In September 1812, Russians retreat from Moscow after Battle of Borodino Napoleon finds Moscow abandoned and burning- they retreat Began to march home Oct. 19, 1812 - only 100,000 troops Thousands of men die- lack of food, brutal cold temperatures 10,000 soldiers survived the march from Moscow
NAPOLEON IS EXILED Napoleon Suffers Defeat Britain, Prussia, Sweden, Russia, Austria join forces against Napoleon He tries to rally an army but is quickly defeated Napoleon finally surrenders and is exiled to island of Elba Napoleon escaped Elba in March 1815 Wanted to overthrow the new king Gains troop to join him
THE HUNDRED DAYS AND DEFEAT OF NAPOLEON The Hundred Days- last attempt at power Battle of Waterloo British, Prussian forces defeat Napoleon s army This defeat ends Hundred Days Sent into exile again- This time they sent him to St. Helena an island a thousand miles from the Atlantic Coast - He dies 6 years later Napoleon s ideals encouraged many European people to set up their own country- self - determination
CONGRESS OF VIENNA Congress of Vienna series of meetings that reshape Europe Balance of power no one country a threat Attempt to contain power of France Meeting of Russia, Prussia, Austria, Great Britain, and France Creates new countries in Europe and alliances Restore original Monarchs- legitimacy- monarchs returned to their thrones Leaders hope to restore order through these changes Congress of Vienna succeeds in getting all European governments together Fair deals are worked out so that the meeting does not lead to more war European nations agree to preserve peace, which lasts almost 40 years